(Image: IMDb)
The North East has a reputation for nursing creative prowess, with Sam Fender and Rowan Atkinson labelling the region as home.
Yet few are aware that Mr Selfridge and Bridgerton star Amy Beth Hayes also hails from the region.
Born in Abergavenny, Wales, the drama actress spent much of her formative years in County Durham, more specifically the town of Darlington.
Early life and education
Hayes’ love for acting started early, as the actress joined the National Youth Theatre at age 14.
It was here where, despite being years younger than much of the company, she fell in love with acting.
It wasn’t until after education, though, that she fully indulged in the creative, instead choosing the more academic route of studying English Literature at the University of Oxford.
While her focus may have been on the academics, her love for creativity still shone below the surface as Hayes became an avid member of the Oxford University Dramatic Society (OUDS).
After graduating with honours, London began to call her name.
With a clear intent to make acting more than just a hobby, Hayes enrolled in London’s Central School for Speech and Acting on a Drama course which lasted three years.
The first role came soon after as she starred in the Romanian movie ‘EVA’; a film that won two awards at the Monaco International Film Festival in 2010.
From Doctor Who to Bridgerton
Then came her first British TV appearance, in Doctor Who no less, in an episode titled ‘Stolen Earth’.
What followed was series of appearances in Misfits and Black Mirror before landing her breakthrough role; Kitty Hawkins in Mr Selfridge.
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It was a role that took the local actress from 2013-2016 and signals a major portion of her acting career.
Since then, Hayes, now 43, has appeared in several major TV shows, including Death in Paradise.
She has also starred in Bridgerton - where she played Lady Trowbridge, the recently widowed woman who throws parties during the social season.
Her early love for theatre saw her perform at both the Royal Shakespeare Theatre and Royal Court Theatre.
As with a lot of creatives, Amy Beth Hayes' craft has led her away from her hometown and towards the wider world but in the eyes of Darlington locals, she will always be one of their own.